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The man's father told 11 News late Thursday evening that his son, Alex Michael Brizzi, 25, of Elkridge, is the suspect. Police confirmed on Friday that Brizzi is the suspect, and said he faces several charges that include second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, threat of arson, four counts of reckless endangerment and possession of a phony destructive device.

"I apologize for what he did. The one thing I've got to say is it wasn't him doing it. It was his mind. It's different now. It's like he has got this obsession that he needs to get out here and tell the world about what's going to happen to the world," said Brizzi's father, Ed Brizzi.

Suspect was determined to spread message

Alex Brizzi, dressed in a hedgehog onesie, wore a surgical mask and sunglasses to cover his face as he entered the TV station's front entrance. Alex Brizzi tried to give employees a flash drive, saying something about what's going on in the news and saying that he needs his video shown.

"He talked to me. The man was wearing what appeared to be a full-body white panda suit, surgical mask, sunglasses. He had a flash drive, saying he had information he wanted to get on the air. He compared it to information found in the Panama Papers. I told him, 'I can't let you in. You're going to have to leave the flash drive here. Slide it through the opening.' He wouldn't do that. And then apparently, he made some threats before. I wasn't there for those, so I don't know what those were, but we thought it was safe to evacuate the building. We called 911 and they gave us the same advice," WBFF-TV News Director Mike Tomko said.

Baltimore police Director T.J. Smith said he does not know the contents of the flash drive.

A security officer thought the situation was suspicious, so he alerted employees to evacuate and called authorities, 11 News' Lacee Griffith reported.

"The good news is our security guard (kept the man from) getting all the way into the building. We have a vestibule out front and he was in that area and didn't get past the security guard inside the building," WBFF-TV General Manager Bill Fanshawe said.

"He made suggestions to the person he encountered ... he said something to him and then displayed what appeared to be wires and some other things inside of his jacket that appeared to be some type of explosive device," Smith said.

Fire set in car's gas cap

Officials said a vehicle was set on fire in parking lot of the station. A rag that was set on fire was placed into the gas cap, police said. There was no explosive device within the car, which is associated with Alex Brizzi, police said.

"Outside of the building, a vehicle was set on fire. It appears to be arson related," Smith said. "There was not type of explosion, no type of bomb detonated at any time."

Suspect leaves building defiant, shot by officers

Alex Brizzi left the building around 3 p.m. Police said he appeared to have some type of device in his hand and that he refused to comply with officers' orders, so SWAT officers who were called to the scene fired.

"The suspect came out of the building and started advancing toward the officers. He was not listening to any of the officers' orders. Officers were telling him to take his hands out of his pockets. He had on a hooded jacket. He had his hands in his pockets. He had a surgical mask on and a counter sniper shot the suspect," Smith said.

WBFF-TV

Police said three officers fired seven shots total and Alex Brizzi was struck at least three times.

According to his father, Alex Brizzi was shot in the neck, left buttocks, the right leg, and a fourth location. He said his son was in surgery late into the evening.

After shooting Alex Brizzi, there was no confirmation on whether there was an actual explosive device, so police said they took the situation very seriously.

Two police bomb squad robots circled Alex Brizzi to try and determine if he had an explosive device attached to his person. Police said during this time, medics were unable to approach and treat him until they determined the situation was safe.

Alex Brizzi's onesie and clothing were eventually removed. He was then put in an armored vehicle and taken from the scene to Shock Trauma. He was listed in serious, but stable condition, police said. He is expected to survive.

Miller reported that Alex Brizzi was wearing a vest filled with candy bars to give it the appearance of having some sort of explosives like C-4.

Officers investigated the clothing items, which did not appear to contain any explosives. Police later confirmed that the vest contained chocolate candy bars wrapped in aluminum foil with wiring connected to each other and wiring coming down one arm, giving the appearance of a explosive device.

Around 9:15 p.m., Smith said WBFF-TV and 41st Street were reopened and the area is secure.

"It's a scary situation. There are crazy people out there and you be prepared for the worst. We're glad that everybody got out safely and that's what's most important. No one was hurt. No one was harmed on our staff, everybody got out of the building," Fanshawe said.

Suspect's father shocked

Ed Brizzi told 11 News that he was shocked by his son's actions.

"It was shock. We didn't see it coming. About two weeks ago, Alex had some kind of a breakdown and came to us and said he had a vision from God and that he thought the world was going to end on June 3," Ed Brizzi said. "I think that's why he went to Fox, to try and warn all the people that the world was going to end on June 3."

Ed Brizzi said his son has had problems with depression in recent years.

"We were keeping a watchful eye on him. About three days later, he passed out in somebody's yard. They called the police. The police came and it took seven policemen to hold him down, and they took him to St. Agnes Hospital. When he got to the hospital, they said what was wrong with him was severe dehydration. We didn't think he had done anything to himself or anything," Ed Brizzi said.

Ed Brizzi said his son "acted pretty normal" since then.

"I mean, he was a little bit quiet, but we didn't really see anything coming that would suggest he would do something like this," Ed Brizzi said. "We were really trying to watch him, because of him telling us that the world was going to end on June 3, and he needed to tell the people that the world was going to end."

Police said the motive remains unclear.

"This is a very, very unusual event, but in this day and age, this seems to happen more and more across our country," Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said.

"It just shocked me. He has never hurt anybody else. The thing he had around him were candy bars, so he had no intention of hurting anybody. He just wanted to get his message, and it's so much in his mind right now that he thinks it's like a vendetta to get this message out. That's why, I'm sure, he wasn't backing away," Ed Brizzi said.

Smith said the investigation is ongoing and charges against the man will be pending review from the Baltimore City State's Attorney.

"I'm sure they'll put him in some psychiatric care, and hopefully, he'll get better," Ed Brizzi said. "This really wasn't Alex doing this. It's something that's in his mind right now and he's broke. Hopefully, I hope they're able to fix him."